Memo

BILL NUMBER:S824

TITLE OF BILL: An act to amend the executive law and the environmental conservation law, in relation to development of a permit system to provide disabled veterans access to certain restricted bodies of water through the use of float planes

PURPOSE: To provide a qualified veteran with a certified disability access by a float plane to appropriate lands under the Department of Environmental Conservation's jurisdiction consistent with Article XIV, Section 1 of the New York State Constitution.

SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS: The legislation amends the Environmental Conservation Law to establishes a system by which the Department of Environmental Conservation can grant a non-transferable temporary revocable permit to allow the use of state lands under the jurisdiction of the departments.

The Department shall determine annually on or before January 1 at minimum five bodies of water under the jurisdiction of the Department which pursuant to a Adirondack Park State Land Master Plan in accordance with §816 of the Executive Law prohibits float plane access, that shall become accessible for individuals in legal possession of a permit.

The Department in determining which bodies of water to allow for float plane access with a permit shall be shall insure that access will not adversely impact the environment in the following manner:

(1) The natural resources of the area ability to sustain use by float plane; (2) The compatible with other public use of the area; (3) The safety of the operation of a float plane and the ability to prevent dangerous conditions; (4) A demonstration that significant ecological areas including but limited to the following; exceptional forest or plant communities, shorelines, unique areas, wetlands, habitats for rare or threatened species, and biological diversity areas possessing unique, exemplary or significant natural community requiring special protection, will not be adversely effected by the operation of a float plane consistent with the provisions of this chapter.

EXISTING LAW: It is the policy of the Department of Environmental Conservation to provide a qualified person with a certified disability access by a suitable motor vehicle to certain lands under its jurisdiction.

A qualified person with a certified disability who wants to access State land by a suitable motor vehicle, where either the desired location is closed to motor vehicles or is open to motor vehicles different from the type of motor vehicle desired to be used by that

person, may do so only through the authority of a permit. Such permit shall provide that the qualified person with a certified disability is authorized to operate a suitable type of motor vehicle as designated in the permit on all roads, trails and geographical areas designated by the Department for such use and elsewhere as specifically approved, consistent with current law and rules and regulations.

JUSTIFICATION: The Adirondack Mountains of northeastern New York are home to the six-million-acre Adirondack Park, a patchwork of public and private lands protected under state law. More than 2.6 million acres within the park are owned and managed by the state. New York's Constitution states that these public lands in the Adirondack Park must never be developed and "...shall be forever kept as wild forest lands."

This protected land, which ranges from remote back country to well-traveled mountain trails, provides a tremendous resource both for preservation and recreation. Throughout the park, the state Department of Environmental Conservation maintains more than 2,000 miles of marked trails available for people of all interests and abilities.

Text

IN SENATE -- Introduced by Sens. LITTLE, LARKIN -- read twice and
ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on
Finance
IN ASSEMBLY -- Introduced by M. of A. SAYWARD -- read once and referred
to the Committee on Environmental Conservation
AN ACT to amend the executive law and the environmental conservation
law, in relation to development of a permit system to provide disabled
veterans access to certain restricted bodies of water through the use
of float planes
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Subdivision 3 of section 816 of the executive law is renum-
bered subdivision 4 and a new subdivision 3 is added to read to follows:
3. THE MASTER PLAN AND THE INDIVIDUAL MANAGEMENT PLANS SHALL BE
REVIEWED PERIODICALLY AND SHALL BE AMENDED FROM TIME TO TIME PURSUANT TO
SECTION 15-0506 OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION LAW, AND WHEN SO
AMENDED SHALL AS AMENDED HENCEFORTH GUIDE THE MANAGEMENT OF STATE LANDS
IN THE ADIRONDACK PARK. AMENDMENTS TO THE MASTER PLAN SHALL BE PREPARED
BY THE AGENCY, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL
CONSERVATION, AND SUBMITTED AFTER PUBLIC HEARING TO THE GOVERNOR FOR
APPROVAL.
S 2. The environmental conservation law is amended by adding a new
section 15-0506 to read as follows:
S 15-0506. PERMITS FOR FLOAT PLANE ACCESS TO BODIES OF WATER IN THE
ADIRONDACK PARK.
1. FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION THE FOLLOWING DEFINITIONS SHALL
APPLY:
A. "FLOAT PLANE" SHALL MEAN AN AIRPLANE EQUIPPED WITH FLOATS FOR LAND-
ING ON OR TAKING OFF FROM A BODY OF WATER.

EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01357-01-1

S. 824 2 A. 518

B. "AREA" MEANS A WATER BODY UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF THE DEPARTMENT
WHICH PURSUANT TO SECTION EIGHT HUNDRED SIXTEEN OF THE EXECUTIVE LAW
PROHIBITS FLOAT PLANE ACCESS.
C. "CERTIFICATION/CERTIFIED" MEANS A SIGNED STATEMENT BY A LICENSED
PHYSICIAN ON A FORM PROVIDED BY THE DEPARTMENT, CERTIFYING THAT A PERSON
HAS ONE OR MORE IMPAIRMENTS, DISABILITIES OR CONDITIONS AS DEFINED IN
PARAGRAPH F OF THIS SUBDIVISION WHICH DOCUMENT THE NEED FOR THE PERSON
TO USE A MOTOR VEHICLE, AND THE NATURE, DEGREE AND TERM OF THE DISABILI-
TY. THE CERTIFICATION SHALL SPECIFY THE LENGTH OF TIME DURING WHICH SUCH
CERTIFICATION IS EFFECTIVE. ALL CERTIFICATIONS MUST BE DATED WITHIN ONE
YEAR PRIOR TO THE DATE OF APPLICATION.
D. "COMPANION" MEANS A PERSON WHO MAY ACCOMPANY THE QUALIFIED PERSON
WITH A DISABILITY AS NECESSARY TO ATTEND TO HIS OR HER NEEDS.
E. "PERMIT" MEANS A NONTRANSFERABLE TEMPORARY REVOCABLE PERMIT AS
AUTHORIZED BY THIS SECTION TO ALLOW THE USE OF STATE LANDS UNDER THE
JURISDICTION OF THE DEPARTMENT.
F. "QUALIFIED VETERAN" MEANS A VETERAN AS DEFINED IN THIS SECTION WITH
A DISABILITY WHO:
(I) CANNOT WALK TWO HUNDRED FEET WITHOUT STOPPING TO REST; OR
(II) CANNOT WALK WITHOUT THE USE OF, OR ASSISTANCE FROM, A BRACE,
CANE, CRUTCH, ANOTHER PERSON, PROSTHETIC DEVICE, WHEELCHAIR, OR OTHER
ASSISTIVE DEVICE; OR
(III) IS RESTRICTED BY LUNG DISEASE TO SUCH AN EXTENT THAT THE
PERSON'S FORCED (RESPIRATORY) EXPIRATORY VOLUME FOR ONE SECOND, WHEN
MEASURED BY SPIROMETRY, IS LESS THAN ONE LITER, OR THE ARTERIAL OXYGEN
TENSION IS LESS THAN SIXTY MM/HG ON ROOM AIR AT REST; OR
(IV) USES PORTABLE OXYGEN; OR
(V) HAS A CARDIAC CONDITION TO THE EXTENT THAT THE PERSON'S FUNCTIONAL
LIMITATIONS ARE CLASSIFIED IN SEVERITY AS CLASS III OR CLASS IV, ACCORD-
ING TO STANDARDS SET BY THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION; OR
(VI) IS SEVERELY LIMITED IN THEIR ABILITY TO WALK DUE TO AN ARTHRITIC,
NEUROLOGICAL, OR ORTHOPEDIC CONDITION.
G. "REGIONAL LAND MANAGER" MEANS THE INDIVIDUAL CHARGED WITH THE
ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE DEPARTMENT LANDS ON WHICH A QUALI-
FIED PERSON WITH A DISABILITY DESIRES ACCESS.
H. "VETERAN" MEANS A PERSON (A) WHO SERVED IN THE ACTIVE MILITARY,
NAVAL, OR AIR SERVICE DURING A PERIOD OF WAR, OR WHO WAS A RECIPIENT OF
THE ARMED FORCES EXPEDITIONARY MEDAL, NAVY EXPEDITIONARY MEDAL, MARINE
CORPS EXPEDITIONARY MEDAL, OR GLOBAL WAR ON TERRORISM EXPEDITIONARY
MEDAL, AND WHO WAS DISCHARGED OR RELEASED THEREFROM UNDER HONORABLE
CONDITIONS, (B) WHO WAS EMPLOYED BY THE WAR SHIPPING ADMINISTRATION OR
OFFICE OF DEFENSE TRANSPORTATION OR THEIR AGENTS AS A MERCHANT SEAMAN
DOCUMENTED BY THE UNITED STATES COAST GUARD OR DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE,
OR AS A CIVIL SERVANT EMPLOYED BY THE UNITED STATES ARMY TRANSPORT
SERVICE (LATER REDESIGNATED AS THE UNITED STATES ARMY TRANSPORTATION
CORPS, WATER DIVISION) OR THE NAVAL TRANSPORTATION SERVICE; AND WHO
SERVED SATISFACTORILY AS A CREW MEMBER DURING THE PERIOD OF ARMED
CONFLICT, DECEMBER SEVENTH, NINETEEN HUNDRED FORTY-ONE, TO AUGUST
FIFTEENTH, NINETEEN HUNDRED FORTY-FIVE, ABOARD MERCHANT VESSELS IN
OCEANGOING, I.E., FOREIGN, INTERCOASTAL, OR COASTWISE SERVICE AS SUCH
TERMS ARE DEFINED UNDER FEDERAL LAW (46 USCA 10301 & 10501) AND FURTHER
TO INCLUDE "NEAR FOREIGN" VOYAGES BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA,
MEXICO, OR THE WEST INDIES VIA OCEAN ROUTES, OR PUBLIC VESSELS IN OCEAN-
GOING SERVICE OR FOREIGN WATERS AND WHO HAS RECEIVED A CERTIFICATE OF
RELEASE OR DISCHARGE FROM ACTIVE DUTY AND A DISCHARGE CERTIFICATE, OR AN
HONORABLE SERVICE CERTIFICATE/REPORT OF CASUALTY, FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF

S. 824 3 A. 518

DEFENSE, (C) WHO SERVED AS A UNITED STATES CIVILIAN EMPLOYED BY THE
AMERICAN FIELD SERVICE AND SERVED OVERSEAS UNDER UNITED STATES ARMIES
AND UNITED STATES ARMY GROUPS IN WORLD WAR II DURING THE PERIOD OF ARMED
CONFLICT, DECEMBER SEVENTH, NINETEEN HUNDRED FORTY-ONE THROUGH MAY
EIGHTH, NINETEEN HUNDRED FORTY-FIVE, AND WHO WAS DISCHARGED OR RELEASED
THEREFROM UNDER HONORABLE CONDITIONS, OR (D) WHO SERVED AS A UNITED
STATES CIVILIAN FLIGHT CREW AND AVIATION GROUND SUPPORT EMPLOYEE OF PAN
AMERICAN WORLD AIRWAYS OR ONE OF ITS SUBSIDIARIES OR ITS AFFILIATES AND
SERVED OVERSEAS AS A RESULT OF PAN AMERICAN'S CONTRACT WITH AIR TRANS-
PORT COMMAND OR NAVAL AIR TRANSPORT SERVICE DURING THE PERIOD OF ARMED
CONFLICT, DECEMBER FOURTEENTH, NINETEEN HUNDRED FORTY-ONE THROUGH AUGUST
FOURTEENTH, NINETEEN HUNDRED FORTY-FIVE, AND WHO WAS DISCHARGED OR
RELEASED THEREFROM UNDER HONORABLE CONDITIONS.
2. THE DEPARTMENT SHALL PROVIDE A QUALIFIED VETERAN ACCESS BY A FLOAT
PLANE TO APPROPRIATE LANDS UNDER ITS JURISDICTION CONSISTENT WITH
SECTION ONE OF ARTICLE FOURTEEN OF THE STATE CONSTITUTION. THE DEPART-
MENT SHALL DETERMINE ANNUALLY ON OR BEFORE JANUARY FIRST A MINIMUM FIVE
BODIES OF WATER UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF THE DEPARTMENT WHICH PROHIBIT
FLOAT PLANE ACCESS PURSUANT TO THE MASTER PLAN DEVELOPED IN ACCORDANCE
WITH SECTION EIGHT HUNDRED SIXTEEN OF THE EXECUTIVE LAW, THAT SHALL
BECOME ACCESSIBLE FOR QUALIFIED DISABLED VETERANS PURSUANT TO A PERMIT
ISSUED UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION. THE DEPARTMENT, IN DETER-
MINING WHICH BODIES OF WATER TO ALLOW FOR FLOAT PLANE ACCESS UNDER THIS
SECTION, SHALL ENSURE THAT SUCH ACCESS WILL NOT ADVERSELY IMPACT THE
ENVIRONMENT IN THE FOLLOWING MANNER;
A. THE NATURAL RESOURCES OF THE AREA ABILITY TO SUSTAIN USE BY FLOAT
PLANE;
B. THE COMPATIBILITY WITH OTHER PUBLIC USE OF THE AREA;
C. THE SAFETY OF THE OPERATION OF A FLOAT PLANE AND THE ABILITY TO
PREVENT DANGEROUS CONDITIONS;
D. A DEMONSTRATION THAT SIGNIFICANT ECOLOGICAL AREAS INCLUDING BUT NOT
LIMITED TO THE FOLLOWING: EXCEPTIONAL FOREST OR PLANT COMMUNITIES,
SHORELINES, UNIQUE AREAS, WETLANDS, HABITATS FOR RARE OR THREATENED
SPECIES, AND BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY AREAS POSSESSING UNIQUE, EXEMPLARY OR
SIGNIFICANT NATURAL COMMUNITY REQUIRING SPECIAL PROTECTION, WILL NOT BE
ADVERSELY AFFECTED BY THE OPERATION OF A FLOAT PLANE CONSISTENT WITH THE
PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION.
3. A QUALIFIED DISABLED VETERAN MAY OBTAIN A PERMIT FOR THE USE OF A
FLOAT PLANE ON DESIGNATED BODIES OF WATER PURSUANT TO THIS SUBDIVISION.
SUCH PERMIT WILL AUTHORIZE TRAVEL BY A FLOAT PLANE TO AREAS DESIGNATED
IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUBDIVISION TWO OF THIS SECTION.
A. THE APPLICANT MUST PRESENT CERTIFICATION OF HIS/HER QUALIFYING
DISABILITY UPON APPLICATION, UNLESS THE PERSON HAS AN OBVIOUS, VISUALLY
IDENTIFIABLE PERMANENT QUALIFYING DISABILITY, OR THE APPLICANT PRESENTS
A NON-AMBULATORY HUNTER PERMIT.
B. THE APPLICANT MUST SUBMIT A COMPLETED APPLICATION TO ANY REGIONAL
OFFICE OF THE DEPARTMENT IN WHICH A DESIGNATED BODY OF WATER IS LOCATED.
C. THE PERMIT SHALL SPECIFY THE AUTHORIZATION FOR UP TO THREE COMPAN-
IONS TO ACCOMPANY THE QUALIFIED PERSON WITH A DISABILITY, IF HE OR SHE
CHOOSES TO BE SO ACCOMPANIED. THE PERMIT SHALL SPECIFY THAT ACCESS IS
LIMITED TO DESIGNATED AND SPECIFICALLY IDENTIFIED WATER BODIES WITHIN
THE ADIRONDACK PARK.
D. THE APPLICATION PACKAGE SHALL BE PROCESSED IN THE REGION AS A
ROUTINE PERMIT, WITH A TEN WORKDAY MAXIMUM PROCESSING TIME.
E. THE PERMIT MAY BE ISSUED FOR ANY TIME PERIOD, NOT TO EXCEED ONE
YEAR FROM DATE OF ISSUE, EXCEPT THAT A PERMIT MAY BE ISSUED FOR A PERIOD

S. 824 4 A. 518

OF FIVE YEARS TO A QUALIFIED VETERAN WITH A DISABILITY EITHER CERTIFIED
OR VISUALLY OBVIOUS AS PERMANENT.
F. THE PERMIT MAY BE RENEWED WITHOUT RECERTIFYING THE DISABILITY,
PROVIDED THAT THE REQUEST FOR RENEWAL IS WITHIN THE TERM OF THE DISABIL-
ITY AS DESCRIBED IN THE ORIGINAL CERTIFICATION.
G. THE DEPARTMENT WILL ASSURE THAT RENEWAL APPLICATIONS ARE SENT TO
PERMITTEES, OTHER THAN THOSE WITH A PERMANENT DISABILITY. THE REMINDER
NOTICE WILL INCLUDE A QUESTIONNAIRE TO SURVEY THE EFFICIENCY OF THIS
PERMIT SYSTEM. QUESTIONNAIRES WILL ALSO BE SENT ROUTINELY TO THOSE
PERSONS WITH A FIVE-YEAR PERMIT.
4. A. THE DEPARTMENT SHALL DENY THE APPLICATION FOR A PERMIT IF THE
APPLICANT DOES NOT MEET THE QUALIFYING REQUIREMENTS. THE APPLICANT MAY
REAPPLY AT ANY TIME, ONCE THE CONDITIONS FOR RECEIVING THE PERMIT ARE
MET.
B. THE APPLICANT MAY APPEAL THE DENIAL OF A PERMIT TO THE REGIONAL
SUPERVISOR OF NATURAL RESOURCES FOR THE REGION IN WHICH THE PERMIT WAS
ISSUED WITHIN THIRTY WORKDAYS OF THE DATE OF NOTIFICATION OF DENIAL. IF
REQUESTED BY THE APPLICANT, THE REGIONAL SUPERVISOR OF NATURAL RESOURCES
WILL SCHEDULE A MEETING BETWEEN THE APPLICANT AND THE REGIONAL LAND
MANAGER. THE REGIONAL SUPERVISOR OF NATURAL RESOURCES SHALL RENDER A
DECISION WITHIN TEN WORKDAYS OF RECEIPT OF THE APPLICANT'S APPEAL OR
FROM THE DATE OF THE MEETING. THE APPLICANT MAY APPEAL THE DECISION OF
THE REGIONAL SUPERVISOR OF NATURAL RESOURCES TO THE REGIONAL DIRECTOR
WITHIN THIRTY WORKDAYS OF THE SECOND DENIAL. THE REGIONAL DIRECTOR WILL
ISSUE A FINAL DECISION WITHIN FIFTEEN WORKDAYS OF RECEIPT OF THE APPEAL.
5. A. A PERMIT MAY BE SUSPENDED OR REVOKED AT ANY TIME DURING THE
DURATION OF THE PERMIT IF THE CONDITIONS OF THE PERMIT ARE NOT MET, THE
PERMITTEE AND/OR A COMPANION IS IN VIOLATION OF ANY PROVISIONS OF THIS
SECTION OR OF ANY RULE OR REGULATION PROMULGATED BY THE DEPARTMENT OR
THE ADIRONDACK PARK AGENCY OR ANY OTHER RELEVANT STATE OR FEDERAL LAWS.
FOR MINOR VIOLATIONS, THE REGIONAL LAND MANAGER WILL FOLLOW THE PROCE-
DURES FOR THE SUSPENSION OF A PERMIT, AS DESCRIBED IN THIS SECTION.
HOWEVER, FOR MAJOR VIOLATIONS, THE REGIONAL LAND MANAGER MAY REVOKE THE
PERMIT IMMEDIATELY. THE PERMITTEE MAY APPEAL THE REVOCATION, FOLLOWING
THE PROCEDURE FOR APPEALING A REVOCATION.
B. THE PERMIT HOLDER SHALL BE GIVEN NOTICE OF PENDING SUSPENSION BY
CERTIFIED MAIL, RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED, AND SHALL BE ALLOWED TEN WORK-
DAYS FROM DATE OF RECEIPT TO CONFORM TO THE CONDITIONS OR PROVISIONS OF
THE PERMIT. HOWEVER, IF THE SITUATION FOR COMPLIANCE IS DEEMED CRITICAL
BY THE REGIONAL LAND MANAGER, HE OR SHE MAY IMMEDIATELY SUSPEND THE
PERMIT. IF THE PERMIT IS SUSPENDED, NOTICE SHALL ALSO BE GIVEN THAT,
UNLESS THE CONDITIONS OR PROVISIONS OF THE PERMIT ARE ADHERED TO, THE
PERMIT SHALL BE REVOKED AT THE END OF THE TEN-WORKDAY SUSPENSION PERIOD.
C. THE REGIONAL LAND MANAGER SHALL INITIATE THE PROCEDURE TO SUSPEND
THE PERMIT, PREPARING A MEMORANDUM CITING THE REASON FOR SUSPENSION TO
THE REGIONAL SUPERVISOR OF NATURAL RESOURCES. THE REGIONAL SUPERVISOR OF
NATURAL RESOURCES SHALL NOTIFY THE PERMITTEE IN WRITING OF THE IMPENDING
SUSPENSION, THE REASON OR REASONS JUSTIFYING THE SUSPENSION AND THE
REQUIREMENT OR REQUIREMENTS TO RECTIFY THE SITUATION.
D. IF A PERMITTEE FAILS TO COMPLY WITH THE CONDITIONS TO LIFT THE
SUSPENSION, THE REGIONAL SUPERVISOR OF NATURAL RESOURCES SHALL PROCEED
WITH NOTIFICATION OF THE REVOCATION OF THE PERMIT.
E. A PERMITTEE MAY APPEAL THE REVOCATION OF A PERMIT TO THE REGIONAL
SUPERVISOR OF NATURAL RESOURCES FOR THE REGION IN WHICH THE PERMIT WAS
ISSUED WITHIN THIRTY WORKDAYS OF THE DATE OF NOTIFICATION. IF REQUESTED
BY A PERMITTEE, THE REGIONAL SUPERVISOR OF NATURAL RESOURCES WILL SCHED-

S. 824 5 A. 518

ULE A MEETING BETWEEN THE PERMITTEE AND THE REGIONAL LAND MANAGER. THE
REGIONAL SUPERVISOR OF NATURAL RESOURCES SHALL RENDER A DECISION WITHIN
TEN WORKDAYS OF RECEIPT OF THE PERMITTEE'S APPEAL OR FROM THE DATE OF
THE MEETING. THE PERMITTEE MAY APPEAL THE DECISION OF THE REGIONAL
SUPERVISOR OF NATURAL RESOURCES TO THE REGIONAL DIRECTOR WITHIN FIFTEEN
WORKDAYS OF THE DENIAL OF THE APPEAL. THE REGIONAL DIRECTOR WILL ISSUE A
FINAL DECISION WITHIN FIFTEEN WORKDAYS OF RECEIPT OF THE APPEAL.
F. A PERMITTEE SHALL NOT BE AUTHORIZED TO USE THE PERMIT DURING THE
TERM OF THE SUSPENSION, REVOCATION OR APPEAL PROCESS.
S 3. This act shall take effect on the first of January next succeed-
ing the date on which it shall have become a law.

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